A recent study by a psychologist at the University of Illinois found that boys and girls under five years old associate brilliance with their own gender. However, at age 6 and 7 only the boys still held that view. “While boys continued to believe in their own brilliance, the girls, on average, developed a more equal view,” according to the Atlantic magazine’s article about the study.

The stereotype that brilliance and genius are male traits is common among adults.“The stereotype has an immediate impact,” explained Lin Bian, author of the stud.  “In the long-term it will steer away many young women from careers that are thought to require brilliance.”

The article also noted that parents may feed this stereotype. Parents Google “Is my son gifted?” two and a half times more often than “Is my daughter gifted.”

Here at Atlantic High school, the top 10 students (based on GPA) in each grade differ from boys to girls. Freshmen were split in half five boys and five girls. There was a female majority in the sophomore class with girls taking the lead with eight and the boys with two. Boys took over in the junior class with seven to the girls’ three. Girls dominate the senior class nine to one. 

Of course GPA is only one measurement of intelligence, yet in this measure, here at AHS the girls are proving to be academic leaders.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Class of 2017 - Straight-A's First Semester Front row: Sam Coder; Second row: Kylee Champlin, Bailey Schildberg, Megan Behrends, Emily Hohenberger, Kaylee Pappal; Third row: Hannah Wright, Nadia Somers; Back row: Sarah Fixmer, Zaria Agboglo, Victoria Krogh, Morgan Anstey, McKenna Den Beste, Mary Hayes and Bryn Blanchette